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Steve Myers
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City Clerk Inez M. Brown could be out. Lawsuits between Mayor Don Williamson and the City Council might end. A plan for a city-owned impound or to reopen the city jail could emerge.
Those are just some of what City Hall players say could be on the agenda as soon as the new council takes office Monday, although some big decisions might not happen right away.
"It will take time; council people are new," said 1st Ward Councilman Darryl E. Buchanan, one of three incumbents still on the panel. There is speculation Buchanan could be the next council president.
"I would hope that we as a council collectively be allowed to assess any action that we would take and collectively talk things over and not rush. (The newcomers) have to be allowed to come up to speed. That's only fair."
Williamson supporters say Tuesday's election - in which a majority of new council members pledged to work with the mayor - will usher in a new era of cooperation. But his opponents say the mayor's taking over every aspect of city government.
"The mayor is going to be out there in neighborhoods with the council members," said Joe Conroy, one of Williamson's top aides. "His door is going to be open for suggestions on ways we can move Flint to the next level."
Conroy said the administration's initial main focuses likely will include a proposal to switch back to a traditional activity fund budget used by most cities and recommended by the state.
The council had approved a line-item budget this year to have more authority over the budget, arguing Williamson couldn't be trusted.
The outgoing council also was against other issues that likely are to be proposed again, including making the water plant fully operational and starting a city-owned impound lot that could make the city $1.5 million a year, Conroy said.
One topic that likely will generate controversy is Brown's future. Ninth Ward Councilman Scott Kincaid, one of two Williamson critics who remain on the council, said he believes the mayor wants Brown gone.
"She's got some of the highest integrity in this community, and the only reason to replace Ms. Brown is to put someone else in with less integrity, and I would never support anything like that," Kincaid said.
But Conroy said Brown's future is a council matter that Williamson has no role in.
Brown, who has had tiffs with Williamson, said Wednesday that she has no intention of leaving voluntarily. But as a council appointee, she holds her job by only a simple majority, she said.
"I enjoy my job," she said. "I don't plan to resign or retire."
Full Story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1131641448201350.xml&coll=5
Last edited by Steve Myers on Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:57 pm |
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Steve Myers
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What's next
New issues likely to face the new Flint City Council:
Whether to keep City Clerk Inez M. Brown.
Whether to continue lawsuits against Mayor Don Williamson.
Whether to pay $16 million to make the Flint water plant fully operational.
Whether to lessen the strict oversight the council imposed this year on the budget.
Buying new garbage trucks.
Whether to approve a city-owned impound lot.
Allocating funds to reopen the jail.
Reconsideration of mayoral appointments previously rejected, such as Fire Chief Richard Dicks and Bishop Odis A. Floyd to the Bishop Airport Board. |
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Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:59 pm |
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rapunzel
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Newcomers on council need to come up to speed, in Councilman Buchanan's words. The best person to guide them in proper legal procedure is Inez Brown. Now she doesn't make the laws but she will lay down her life to see they are followed. She is the best friend the council could have during this honeymoon phaze. She deserves the respect of every voter in the City of Flint and has the respect of most in Genesee County. Six new members on the council will do well if they listen to her guidance not on issues but on Roberts Rules of Order! |
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Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:06 pm |
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Ted Jankowski
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New Garbage trucks, Bid going outside the City. I guess Flint Business's that stay in the City don't deserve to get our tax dollars or even any of theirs back for staying here. Hmm, maybe that's what the article was talking about when it said Flint was unfriendly to business. We want your business to pay taxes but don't want to do anything else to help you stay in flint. |
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Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:19 pm |
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